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Struggling for gift inspiration this Mothers Day?

Monday 29 February 2016

With Mothers Day fast approaching - Sunday the 6th March - don't miss this opportunity to show your Mum how loved an appreciated she is.

If, like me, you sometimes struggle for ideas, I have put together a gift guide to inspire you. Happy shopping!


Lets start with some traditional ideas.



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Flowers from Appleyard London.




This is personally my favourite florist, the bouquets are absolutely beautiful and expertly arranged.


As my Mum is away next Weekend, I have already had her Mothers Day Flowers delivered. This year I chose this exquisite Violet Orchid bouquet - isn't is stunning?


If you are ordering your Mum some flowers for Sunday, Appleyard London have kindly given me a generous discount code to share with my lovely readers. Simply use BLOG33 for 33% off Appleyards range of luxury bouquets, (EXCLUDING the flowers by post range)


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A quality bottle of wine.


This Ned Pinot Noir, is described as dense fruit based bouquet and a palate of ripe berry fruit flavour wrapped up in a supple, silky tannin texture.

Made from Southern Valleys, NZ imported berries and especially wonderful served with lamb racks and seasonal green vegetables, although just a enjoyable 

 Priced £14.49 this is my own Mums favourite!


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Milk Tray Chocolates.


Why not present her with a box of the one and only Cadbury Milk Tray? With it's iconic colours and flavours, the Milk Tray box has been the perfect way to show your love for over 100 years.

In our house, my Husband is a Praline lover, toffees are my favourite, while Liv makes a grab for the Strawberries, which flavour is your favourite?

Available at all good retailers. RRP: £1.00 for a 78g box, £4.25 for a 180g box, £8.49 for a 260g box and £12.99 for a 530g box.


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Yankee Candle.


Mothers Day candle Mums Make Everything Brighter Yankee Candle called Lilac Blossoms, will fill her house with the beautiful scent of Lavender and White & deep purple lilacs.

This 2 Wick 10oz tumbler is priced at £14.49 burns for up to 95 hours.


I have my fingers crossed for one of these!




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Beauty.


White hot hair treatments.



White Hot  is a collection of six hair products especially for white and grey hair. The shampoos, conditioners and styling products are designed to brighten, cleanse, condition and add shine and definition.



For White Hot Mums, the limited edition Treat Gift Set contains the full collection of White Hot products. I can't wait to gift this set to my Mother in Law as she has spent years looking for quality products like this.

Available until 5th March, the Treat Gift Set contains: 

1 x Glorious Shampoo (200ml)
1 x Luminous Conditioner (200ml)
1 x Brilliant Shampoo (200ml)
1 x Intense Lustre Mask (100ml)
1 x Lifeshine Oil (50ml)
1 x Shooshing Crème (60ml)
1 x White Hot towelling headband
Presented in an organza bag

Priced at £65.00


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HoMedics NEWA.


In a nutshell the HoMedics NEWA is a device, you can use in your own home to treat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, providing long-term results.

NEWA is a clinically proven device and treatment that is capable of reactivating your skin’s natural ability to produce collagen, increased natural collagen means lifted and plumped skin, which naturally reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes, face and neck. It is a simple fact that as we age our skin begins to lose collagen causing fine lines, deep wrinkles and sagging skin.


 What results can you expect?

After the first treatment -
Skin looks and feels tighter, plumper and has a glow that people notice.

After 4 weeks -
A reduction of fine lines and wrinkles; skin is firmer and smoother.

After 12 weeks -
Up to a one third reduction in wrinkles and tighter skin, with continued improvements over time.

NEWA is easy to use, comfortable, pain-free, as relaxing as a warm facial massage, and can be used on all skin colours and skin types.

Newa delivers energy 3 layers deep into the skin, reactivating the natural collagen producing process. Nothing else can do this - no cream can reach these cells and fillers and chemicals can’t achieve this either.

Priced at £199.99.

Check out the video below for more information.




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Nivea skin care.

After all of the treatments above, of course it is important to also have a good skin care routine. My Mum is often told she doesn't look her age and she has always used Nivea products. The range is far larger now, so I am going to give her some new products to try from the Nivea Q10 plus range.




Q10 and Creatine are powerful active ingredients found naturally in the skin. With age their levels decrease, this means that skin is more prone to damage by external influences - one of the main causes of premature skin-ageing.




The products I have decided to gift my Mum are:

Nivea Q10 plus anti wrinkle age spot day cream - £10.99
Containing Q10 and Creatine in a powerful formula, this cream works effectively to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Nivea Q10 plus, anti wrinkle colour correction tinted day cream - £9.99
NIVEA® Q10 plus range contains the skin's own actives Q10 and Creatine which work in harmony with your skin.
Nivea Q10 plus anti wrinkle eye cream - £9.99
This cream is very light, fast absorbing and perfume free. It promises to minimise dark under-eye circles and visibly reduces the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes

Nivea Q10 plus anti wrinkle night cream - £9.99
Replenishes skin at night while supporting its ability to regenerate. It also supports your natural Q10 and Creatine, helping fight the appearance of wrinkles.

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Braun Silk-épil 9 - Wet&Dry Cordless epilator & Exfoliation system.





Braun Silk-épil 9 has a 40% wider head removing a lot more hair per stroke for faster epilation, microgrip tweezer technology featuring wider, longer and deeper tweezers removing even the shortest hairs that wax cannot catch (down to 0.5mm).




This system is ideal for beginners as it uses pulsating active vibrations for an extra gentle epilation, has a pivoting head for comfort and is also safe to use in the shower or bath.

what makes this system extra special is the sonic exfoliation brush attachment which visibly refines skin with 3000 micro-vibrations per minute and 10.000 fine bristles gently removing dead skin cells. 

This system also comes with a protection cap, shaver head, trimmer cap, skin contact cap, facial cap and cleaning brush for all of your hair removal needs.

Priced at £179.99.



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Electrical gifts.



Goodmans NOD DAB digital alarm clock radio with USB charging.


This DAB+ Digital Clock Radio not only has a fantastic sleek and modern look, but is also incredibly functional.


Featuring a large dimmable display, this mains powered alarm clock comes preset with 20 radio stations, FM tuner, & sleep / snooze features. 





Sounds pretty standard so far right?



Except the Goodmans NOD also has the ability to set daily, weekly or weekend alarms - so no more fumbling around trying to set the Weekend alarms after a bottle of wine on a Saturday. It also has two USB charging ports in the back to allow you to simultaneously charge phones or tablets (using your own cables) There is also a headphone socket fitted so you can listen to music without disturbing your Partner or Children.


Overall size:
W - 116mm, H - 113mm, D - 130mm

Priced at £49



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Something to make her reminisce!


If your Mum has a record collection that she hasn't been able to listen to for years, why not surprise her with this Stylo Vinyl Player, priced at £54.99 from Wayfair.



This compact record player plays 33 / 45 / 78 RPM, the turntable has a high shine piano finish, featuring two inbuilt high quality speakers, and a play/ pause lift arm. There is also an AUX out option, should she want to use headphones or attach an external speaker.



Expertly finished with a blue LED pilot lamp to illuminate the volume and rotating power controls, your Mum will instantly be transported back to the good old days with this gift!


Overall size: H - 11.5cm W - 33cm D - 28cm
Overall Product Weight: 1.8 kg



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Aldi Mothers Day special buys.



Ladies Luxury Scarf - £5.99
Who doesn't love a cosy scarf? These beautiful 100% acrylic Jacquard designs are sure to keep your lovely Mum cosy.

Mini DAB & FM Radio - £29.99
Featuring an LCD display and built in alarm clock and snooze function, this portable radio is fitted with a carry handle and mains or AA battery power options. Available in duck egg blue, orange, black or cream.



Super Cleanser - £14.99
A professional facial gadget that gently massages and exfoliates skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. With its accompanying range of accessories, this excellent product would make an ideal Mother’s Day gift.

Decorative Wall Clocks - £3.99
These attractive clocks come in several designs and colours and include batteries.

Be sure to get to your nearest Aldi as soon as possible as Special Buys often sell out quickly!



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Home Bargains treats.



Have you considered popping into your local Home Bargains for Mothers Day? They have a huge selection of lovely gift to suit every budget - especially if you have little that would like to use their own money like Liv does.

Here are the lovely goodies I was lucky to be sent. Liv is thrilled with them and can't wait to present them on Sunday morning.



Cosmetic bag - £1.69
Coordinating handbag mirror - 49p
Storage case gift box - 99p
Jar of sweets - £2.49

Gift bag - 79p
Picture holder magnet - 49p
Paperweight photo frame - 99p
Teddy in a bag - £1.99

"The lovliest Mum" mug - 99p
Chocolate tulips - £1.79

All of this for just £12.70! What a bargain!

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I hope I have given you some inspiration. Which idea is your favourite?

Disclaimer - some of the above items were sent to me for consideration in this gift guide. All opinion is my own.

Looking for Valentines inspiration? Check out my gift guide.

Thursday 11 February 2016

With Valentines Day just a few days away, I have put together some different gift ideas for anyone who is still struggling. Love is in the air . . . . .


For him.


How about the new BRAUN  series 7 Shaver? 


The Braun series 7 is a fantastic high performance shaver, designed to deliver better comfort as well as efficiency, this is down to its three stage cutting system and flexible head, which adapts to all of the unique contours of his face.

This new offering from BRAUN has a 30% increased shaving area, combined with 1,064 holes, 10,000 micro vibrations in every stroke and 30.000 cross cutting motions catching hairs as short as 0.05mm, this is likely to be the cleanest shave yet.



Apart from the close shave, my Husbands favourite feature about this model is Braun's patented Clean and charge system which kills 99.9% of germs while charging in the stylish looking base (pictured).

RRP £299.99 - price is at the discretion of the retailer so shop around!



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If he is more of a blade Man, how about the new Gillette ProShield razor?



The Gillette ProShield introduces a new lubrication strip, situated before the blades to help protect and prevent the skin from irritation while shaving extremely closely.

The new cartridges fit all Fusion and ProGlide handles and come with a precision trimmer for accurate edging.

My Husband is a big fan of Gillette razors and has already subscribed to regular deliveries of these blades. 

He said the shave is as close as his Fusion Power blades but smoother so definitely worth changing too as his face sometimes get irritated from shaving so often.

RRP £12 from all good retailers.

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For her:

Jewellery from Brilliant Inc



Brilliant Inc is a luxury jewellery boutique in Sloane Square London dealing primarily in a stunning collection of non-mined fine diamonds. 



This non mined diamond tennis bracelet is set with 48, 4mm round stones, in a four prong sterling silver setting. With a beautiful fluidity, this 7 inch bracelet is very comfortable to wear and is definitely an eye catcher - even from across the room.



For safety reasons it has been finished off with a double security clasp, which clips closed and is then reinforced by clicking two small arms into place over the lock, helping prevent it accidentally opening. 

Always design led, you can be assured that each simulated stone is carefully chosen, before being hand set by master jeweller craftsmen in solid gold or sterling silver.

The finished designs are presented beautifully in a luxurious box, complete with velvet pillow and finished with a lovely sleeve and satin bow.

Brilliant Inc offer a complementary clean, so if you are popping in store, be sure to take your previous buys with you!

Why not pop over to www.brilliantinc.co.uk for a look at the full range?

Priced at £245 for 10ct (image shown) or £295 for 27ct.

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Fresh cut roses Yankee candle.


Instead of a bunch of roses that will last a few days, how about a Fresh cut roses Yankee candle?

I absolutely adore this scent, it smells so fresh and not at all overpowering like some floral candles. It literally smells like a fresh bunch of beautiful flowers all through the downstairs of my house. 

I would be thrilled to receive another one on Valentines Day! 

Burning for between 110 and 150 hours, it will definitely last a lot longer than real roses!

Priced at £21.99 for a large.


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To enjoy together


Ned Pinot Rosé Wine.



The Ned Pinot Rosé is a new launch from Marisco Vineyards in New Zealand and is the perfect Valentine’s day wine.

Personally I am very with rosé as I really dislike any sweetness, so if like me you enjoy a lovely dry rosé then I highly recommend this bottle.

Creamy and delicious, with a classic bouquet of red berries and hints of rose, this delicious rosé will be an ideal aperitif or a great companion to our Valentine dinner!

The ABV for this wine is 13.0, the bottle contains 9.8 units and has a screw cap should you have any left over.

Priced at £10.65


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Cadbury Milk Tray



Why not settle down with a box of the one and only Cadbury milk tray at the end of the Evening? With it's iconic colours and flavours, the Milk Tray box has been the perfect way to show your love for over 100 years.

My Husband is a Praline lover, Orange is my favourite, while Liv makes a grab for the Strawberries, which flavour is your favourite?

Available at all good retailers. RRP: £1.00 for a 78g box, £4.25 for a 180g box, £8.49 for a 260g box and £12.99 for a 530g box.


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Heart cube Ottoman.



This gorgeous piece of furniture has real character and is also very useful.

Made from various shades of brown distressed faux leather, it is completely wipeable - which is a big plus when you have a 4 yer old who has really taken a shine to it!



Weighing 5kg, the Chateau chic heart cube Ottoman is a sturdy piece of furniture that can easily be used as a spare seat if required. 

Measuring 46cm high and 40cm wide, it is small enough to fit in to any room yet it really does make a big impact. We love ours and have had many positive remarks about it already!

RRP £90.84 now priced at £61.99 at www.wayfair.co.uk

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How about something completely different?


Like an experience day to remember? From riding Segways, a spa getaway or romantic hot air balloon ride, with life so busy, why not make a full day or Weekend out of your gift?                                                                                           We have our eye on this wine tasting experience in London for just £39.00! What a perfect way to spend an evening together, and we may even learn a thing or two in the process. 

What would you like to do for your experience day?



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Disclaimer - some of the above products were sent to us in consideration for this feature, however all opinion is our own.

Valentines Day with Poundland.

Monday 8 February 2016

As I'm sure you all know, this Sunday is Valentines day - anyone else feel like it was literally *just* Christmas and now we are half way through February?!

Anyway, last year Daddy surprised Liv and I with a lovely Valentines Day breakfast. For almost a whole year, Liv has asked and asked for another one so we are ready prepared this year.

The first place I thought of was Poundland, knowing I couldn't get in to town any time soon, I placed an order with Poundland online for some lovely goodies delivered straight to my door, for just £4 postage and packing - less than the bus fare it would cost me and far less stressful than going out in the wind and rain with a 4 year old!

Here is what I ordered:




2 plates with poppy decoration - £1 each
2 placemats & 2 coasters - £1 for the set
1 red charger plate - £1
1 candle - £1
1 thread your own, felt heart banner - £1 
1 gift bag - £1

Totaling just £7!





As you can see it makes the breakfast table look lovely! 

I got a little creative and cut off 7 starts and some ribbon to make a wreath to encircle the candle, it looks lovely and really finishes off the table well.

There is more of this lovely range in store including heart shaped cups, glasses, napkins and more.

Why not surprise your loved one with a Poundland Valentines table? You are sure to earn some relationship points!

Valentines treats from Aldi.

If, like us, you have a little one to look after and won't be going out for Valentines evening, why not head out to your nearest Aldi to stock up on all you need for a romantic night in.

For under £35 I have treated us to a 3 course meal, nibbles, champagne, a teddy for Liv and a little game for after dinner!

For the big night I will be serving up some of our Aldi favourites:

AppetisersOlives, hummus with carrot and cucumber sticks.

For starter will be Aldi pate, served with toasted bloomer, real Welsh butter, red onion chutney and side salad.

On the menu for main course is home made lasagne, focaccia bread and side salad.

Dessert is Aldi chocolate fudge cake, served with cream and chocolate dipped strawberries.

All washed down with a chilled glass of Aldi champagne or two!



Here are the ingredients and prices:
Hummus - 55p
Olives - £1.29
Carrots - 45p
Cucumber - 42p
Bloomer - 99p
Pate - 89p
Butter - 75p
Onion chutney - 99p
Quorn mince - £1.48
Bolognese sauce - 65p
White sauce - 75p
Pasta sheets - 59p
Cheese - £1.59
Side salad - 59p
Focaccia bread - £1.38
Chocolate fudge cake - £1.29
Cream - 69p
Strawberries - £1.39
Chocolate - 30p
Champagne - £10.99




I also bought a Card for 79p, this super cute Valentines teddy bear for £3.99 and a fun game for after dinner for £1.49.


All totaling just £34.28!



An absolute bargain, and delicious too (as long as I don't burn anything that is!)

If you don't already shop at Aldi, why not give them a try this Valentines?

Do you have any plans?

Disclaimer - we were sent some Valentines goodies by Aldi, however all wording, opinion and images are our own